St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-19
Coneressmen Robert PotteP'S
Life Wrecked by Insane
Jealousy Of His Wife.
The Mysterious Letter That
Drove Congressman Ram
sey to Suicide.

S ator Jones was con-
spicuOuS figure in national affairs IN
Washington Physically he was giant;
intellectually he lowered above many
of his senatorial colleagues. He was
type of dignity. His ability as law
yer was conceded and as an orator he
had few peers in the senate. Moreover,
he was popular with his colleagues ana
the pet of the lriSh-American element
throughout the country.
Senator Jones has been the builder OF
his own fortune and his misfortune as
we'll He was born in Ireland in 1854
and came to this country when boy OF
ten. He learned the trade Of carpentry,
which he followed for years. meanwhile
studying law in Pensacola. Fla. He
was admitted to the bar in 1857. lie be-
came a successful lawyer. In 1915 he
was elected a United States senator and
reelected in 1881.
Two years ago he went to Detroit,
where he met Miss Palms, beautiful
heiress. with whom he became lnfatu-
ated. He is a widower. His unsucceSs-
full suit for her hand, his eccentricltleS
and his financial difficulties are of too
recent date to call for more than pass
ing reference. He has never returned
to Washington since, and he left his
state only partly represented III the
senate up to March last, when his term
expired.
The senator's infatuatiOn for Miss
Palms was so great that he refused to
leave Detroit and return to Florida even
when begged to do so by political ad-
mirers who desired his reelection to the
United States senate, says the New
York Journal. He is changed man;
poor, homeless, and practically depend
ent on charity. He imagineS himself
the victim of conspiracy of politicians.
His friends hope TO be able to take him
back to Florida, where, under proper
care and familiar surroundings, he may
become himself again.
The senator's present unhappy condi-
ton recalls the fate of many well known
congressman and senators whose clos
ing years were Olighted and who ended
brilliant careers in violent manner,
James J. Wilson, of New Jersey, was
successfully clerk of the legislature,
editor. state adjutant general and Unit
ed States senator. His mind became
unbalanced, and one night, imagining
his house was Oh fire, he jumped out of
the window and was badly injured. He
died two years later-July, 1924.
Congressman Robert Potter, of North
Carolina, was the husband of beauti-
full woman of whom he was intensely
jealous. His jealousy developed into
insanity. and he nearly murdered two of
his wife'S cousins, who had called to pay
a friendly visit, Oh Aug. Is. 1881. lie
was sent to prison and fined 81, 900. He
afterward went to Texas, where he was
killed in brawl.
William S. Ramsey, of Carlisle, Pa,
was elected to congress when only
twenty-eight years old. He served i'll
the TWenty-SiXth congress, and was re-
elected to the succeeding one. The day
after his reelection he received letter
the contents of which he never re-
Vealed. He became a changed man,
and ended his bright career with bull
let in a hotel in Baltimore in October,
1870 He was only thirty years old.
In a fit of mental alteration John
White. of Kentucky, killed himself at
Richmond, KY, in September, 1915. He
was congressman for ten years and
speaker of the Twenty-Seyenth con-
greSS.
Congressman Felix G. Mcconnell
represented Alabama from Dec. 4. 1S43,
to Sept. TO- 1916, when he cut his throat
i'll Washington hotel. The death of a
devoted friend had driven him to drink
and insanity, with the result noted.
Jesse Thomas, of Illinois, was a West
ern pioneer. a congressman and United
States senator for ten years. The secret
prosecutions of a political enemy I'M
settled his reason, and he cut his throat
at Mount Vernon, o., on Feb. 3, 1850.
United States Senator Thomas j.
RuSk. of Texas, committed suicide at
NacogdocheS, Tex, in July, 1856. He
had been a successful lawyer, a brave
soldier, had fought for Texan indepen-
dence, served as chief justice of the
state. and was a United States senator
for ten years. Mental infirmity drove
him to the deed which ended his event
full career.
Edward Curtis was noted politician
in his time. He represented New York
city in congress from 1927 to 1S41. when
President Harrison appointed him col
Iector of the port. The treachery of
some political friends turned his brain
and he died in New York, after linger-
lug illness, in August, 1856.
In his time few public men were bet
ter known than Edward A. flanagan,
of Indiana. He served in the state leg
iSlature. in congress, and was a United
States senator for six years. He was
afterward minister to Prussia. One
night in 1852, during drunken brawl,
he killed his brOther-in-law, a Capt.
Duncan. Political influence saved him,
but he removed to Missouri. He was a
changed man, and he brOOded over the
tragedy until his mind was affected. He
died in st. Louis, Feb. %, 1859.
Alfred Z. Stone, who had served Ohio
in congress, was appointed internal
revenue collector for the Columbus dis
trict. He was afterward found to be a
defaulter. Maddened by his disgrace,
and fearing the penalty of his crime, he
disappeared on August l, 1865. He
was found dead next day on the grave
of his two children. He had poisoned
himself. Twenty-Five years ago Preston
King weighted himself down with
iron and stones. and jumped
North river. He was drowned.
He had served four years in con-
gresS and represented New York in the
United States senate. Three months
before he ended his life President John
son appointed him collector of the port.
Senator King. it is said, was insane at
the time he committed suicide. James
H. Lane was another unfortunate.
Fortune had been kind to him and he
was lieutenant governor of Indiana,
congressman and United States senator
from Kansas. While labOring under a
fit of insanity he shot himself at Fort
LeaVenwOrth, Kan, July IL, 1866. He
was senator at the time.
Financial troubles and i'll health
preyed upon the mind of John d. Ash
more, Well-known South Carolina pol
itician, (whO represented his state in the
Thirty-siXth cOngress,) until he became
irresponsible. He ended his misery at
Dardis, Miss, December, 1871, by shoot
ing himself. Obadiah Bovine, of Staten
Island. Princeton graduate, was sent
to congress when only twenty-eight
years old, in 1850. He was afterward
quarantine commissioner and a Lin
coin presidential elector. Family
troubles drove him to drink. re
Squandered his fortune and became des.
titute. Trouble, drink and want turned
his head and he poisoned himself with
opium on April q, 1874, at some place